Garment protector



Maxjch 30, 1948. D. ToPJlAN 2,438,771

GARMENT PROTECTOR Filed Feb. 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l zwar panna ffy/if @Mlm March 30, 1948. D, TOPJlAN 2,438,771

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Patented Mar. 3 0, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,438,111 GABMENTPROTECTOR Daniel Topilan, Watertown, Mass. Application February 14,1945, serial No. 517,794 s claims. (c1. a-ssi This invention relates toapparel and more especially to garment protectors, for specific example,but without limitation, dress shields of the type customarily located atthe armpit portion of a dress-the present invention constituting animprovement over the arrangement disclosed and claimed in my Patent No.2,390,565, dated December 11, 1945, granted upon my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 460,073, filed September 29, 1942, of which thisis a part continuation.

In the aforesaid application there is disclosed a dress shieldcomprising a pair of wings ilexibly united along their upper edges andeach designed to provide Va pocket for the reception of a removableabsorbent pad, the inner wall of each wing being of a material whichresists the passage of moisture and the outer wall being of open meshmaterial, the absorbent pad being described as consisting of anabsorbent layer of cotton or the like interposed between plies oftextile fabric, or in a more simple form, consisting of a layer ofabsorbent paper stock consisting of one or more plies. The presentinvention relates more especially to the absorbent pad and has for itsprincipal object the provision of an absorbent pad capable of retainingits shape so that it does not disintegrate nor bunch up when wet, andwhich may be handled Without danger of tearing. A further object is toprovide a removable pad which may be made so cheaply that it may be 30discarded as soon as may be desirable after use, but which at the sametime possesses the desirable characteristics just above referred to. Afurther object is to provide a garment protector of very simple andinexpensive type such that the entire protector may be removed from thegarment and discarded whenever it becomes soiled. Other and furtherobjects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in thefollowing more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pad embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a modiedconstruction;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a length of material suitable foruse in forming the improved pad and indicating the mode of cutting padsfrom this material so as to minimize waste:

Fig. 5 is a section generally similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating afurther modication;

Fig. 6 is a, similar view illustrating a further modication;

Fig. 'I is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modifled form of pad;

Fig. 8 is a section on .the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a plan View of a further modified form of pad:

Fig. 10 is a view of the opposite side of the pad shown in Fig. 9

Fig. 11 is a section on the line i i-ii of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a pad of further modifled construction;

Fig. 13 is a view of the opposite side of the pad of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a section on the line ifi-I4 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a dress shield embodying the presentinvention; and

Fig. 16 is a section, .to large scale, on the line lt-i of Fig. 15.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral i designates a pad embodying thepresent invention in its simplest form. This pad is in the form of asheet consisting of one or more layers 2 (Fig. 2) of absorbent material,usually fibrous in character, and usually consisting of or predominantlyof a cellulosic substance, for instance cotton batting, soft absorbentpaper, alpha cellulose, iiax iibers, or the like. Such sheet materialmay be prepared in accordance with the usual practice, for example by acotton carding machine or by the employment of paper making machinery,and will usually be of substantially uniform thickness and of a uniformwidth. Obviously the sheet forming the pad i may comprise as many or asfew of these plies as may be desired to provide a pad of the requisitethickness. Such plies when made of the materials above suggested, haveatendency when superposed and subjected to pressure, to cling togethersumciently for the purpose and when a pad is cut from such sheetmaterial it is usually suillciently shape-retaining when dry to permitit to be handled without diilculty.

As lillustrated in Fig. 3, the several layers 3, which may for examplebe of any of the materials above suggested for making the layers 2 ofFig. 2, are impregnated with a substance which tends to inhibitbacteriological or chemical change in the solid residue of theperspiration (particularly the fatty substances), which is absorbed bythe pad. By the employment of such a substance it is unnecessary tointerfere with the free secretion of perspiration or, on the` otherhand, to try to conceal the disagreeable odor of perspiration by someoverpowering perfume, since by this procedure the development ofunpleasant odor is largely prevented. However, if desired, the pliesI'may be impregnated with or contain some substance capable of evolvinga. delicate and pleasing odor. Among the materials which may be employedfor preventing the development of the disagreeable odor of perspiration,may be mentioned benzoic acid compounded with sodium benxoate and boricacid, or 2,2'dihydroxy 3,5,6,3',5',6'hexach1oro diphenyl methane. A Dadof this kind may be depended upon to absorb a very substantial quantityof the solids from perspiration before losing its efficiency and beforedeveloping any disagreeable odor. However. when it has been used for solong a period as to have become clogged with deposited solids, it may bediscarded and replaced by a new pad, since the pad itself may be madevery easily and inexpensively.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the formation of pads like the pad I shown inFig. 2, from materials such as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, may becarried out in a die press, the sheet material M, which as abovesuggested, may comprise as many or as few plies of the unspun fibrousmaterial as desired, being fed through the press and subiected to theaction of suitably shaped dies so arranged as to cut out the pads I oneafter another ln succession, the shape of these pads (lune shaped) whichis desirable for use in or to rform the dress shield, being such as tofacilitate this operation without substantial waste.

Because a sample pad such as above described tends to bunch up and iseasily 'disintegrated when wet, it is contemplated that a sheet of thismaterial such as illustrated in Fig. 5 and comprising the superposedplies l, may be coated on one side as indicated at 5, with somemoistureimpervious or resistant material, for example a thin. tough iilmof cellulose acetate or of some suitable synthetic resin or in fact anyother appropriate flexible, moisture-resistant material which is notinjurious to the skin. Such a coating, film or layer of tough, flexiblematerial, coating and adhering to one side of the pad, adds substantialstrength to the pad, particularly when it is wet, so that the pad doesnot tend to disintegrate or to bunch up during use or to tear when beinghandled during its removal from the shield.

In Fig. 6 a further desirable arrangement is illustrated wherein thefibrous material, shown as comprising superposed plies 8, has a coating'I on one side, similar to the coating 5 just above referred to, and onthe other side has a ply 8 of open .mesh textile fabric, for examplecheese cloth. or a loose knitted material. Preferably the individualyarns of the fabric ply are of a. nonabsorbent character. This textilematerial may be of usual construction, consisting solely of natural orsynthetic yarns, stable asl respects their response to heat or usualsolvents, but on the other hand, this textile ply may, if desired,comprise recurrent yarns of a material which may be made to becomesticky as for example by the application of heat or an appropriatesolvent. Such a ply may be caused to adhere very firmly to the absorbentlayer by causing its special yarns above referred to to bellm Stick? .75

and subjecting the fabric ply and the absorbent layer to pressure,thereby to cause them adhesively to unite. Whether or not the fabric plybe used, itis contemplated that the material constituting the absorbentlayer may consist of a mixture of fibers, for example natural fibers,with l artificial fibers, the latter being initially noncementitious buthaving the inherent capability of becoming cementitious, as by theapplication of heat or a solvent. With such an arrangement these latterfibers may be so treated as to cause them adhesively to unite the other:fibers in the absorbent material without substantially decreasing theabsorbent character of the latter, but on the other hand, very firmlyuniting the fibers into a coherent mass whose integrity is notsubstantially affected by moisture. If suchan absorbent layer beassociated with the fabric ply 8 in which special adhesive yarns areemployed, the fabric ply may be even more rmly bonded to the absorbentlayer.

In Figs. 'l and 8 a further modification is illustrated.' wherein theabsorbent layer I0 is provided on one face with a marginal coating IIwhich may be of material similar to the layer 5 above referred to. Thismarginal layer of flexible matel rial, unaffected by moisture, isadhesively united to one face of the layer I0, forming in effect a framefor the pad, imparting strength to the pad so that the pad may behandled when wet without falling apart, and also acting to preventbunching or disintegration of the pad during use, but leaving thelcentral pervious.

In Figs. 9," 10 and 11 a further arrangement is disclosed, wherein theabsorbent layer I2 is provided on both faces with a marginal frame Il-ofa flexible, non-absorbent material adhering to the absorbent layer, thelatter being also furnished on one face with a ply I4 of textilematerial of open mesh so as to permit free passage of moisture throughit. This textile ply may be of any of the types above suggested.

In Figs. 12, 13 and 14 a further modification is illustrated wherein theabsorbent layer I5, which may be a multi-ply layer such as abovedescribed, and of any of the materials above suggested, is provided onone face with a marginal border or frame I I similar to that illustratedin Fig. 8, and on the same side is furnished with a textile ply I8 ofany of the types above suggested. The opposite face of' the layer I5/isprovided with a lm or coating Il which may be similar to the film iabove suggested, and which is adherent to the layer I5 and whichprevents the passage of moisture from that side inwardly into the layerI 5.

The above pads are all designed for use in pockets of the dress shield,more fully described in the aforesaid pending application. Such pads maybe made very cheaply, and they provide highly effective means forabsorbing the perspiration. In the arrangements shown in Figs. 6 to 14inclusive they provide structures which are strong enough to sustainhandling while wet, and to avoid disintegration in use, and they are soinexpensive that they may be discarded freely as soon as they becomesoiled in the least degree.

In Figs. 15 and 16 an embodiment of the inven- I tion is illustratedwherein the entire dress shield portion of the pad I8, and the innercoatings I1 of moistureimpervious material. If this moisture-imperviousmaterial forming the coating I1 be of thermoplastic character, two suchpads are very easily united along their upper margins merely by applyingheat and pressure so as' to coalesce the layers I1 at the point I8, thusflexibly joining the two pads to form a shield. With this arrangementthe inner films I1 which contact the dress are impervious to moisture,while the outer gauze plies Ii permit free passage of moisture from theskin into the layer I5 to be absorbed by the latter. Such a shield maybe made very cheaply, may readily be applied to the garment, forexample, by the common expedient of using pins, and as soon as it is inthe least soiled may be discarded and replaced by a new one. While-it issuggested that the two pads may thus be united by heat and pressure, itis obvious that they might be united by other appropriate means, forinstance by sewing, by the use of staples, or by treating the uppermargins to solvent for the substance forming the films I1.

While various desirable embodiments of the invention have been hereindescribed as illustrative of the invention, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not necessarily limited to these precise embodiments,but is to be regarded as broadly inclusive of any and all modificationsfalling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A removable absorbent pad for use in a garment shield, said padcomprising a single, luneshaped, leaf-like, uniformly thick sheet ofunspun fibrous cellulosic material which is highly absorbent ofmoisture, said sheet being easily disintegrated when wet, and a thinfilm of tough, exible normally non-adhesive material adherent to themarginal portion of one face of said sheet thereby to strengthen thesheet and preserve the shape of the pad when wet, the outer edge of saidmarginal film registering with the outer edge of said leaf-like sheet.

2. A removable absorbent pad for use in a garment shield, said padcomprising a single, luneshaped, leaf-like, uniformly thick sheet ofunspun fibrous cellulosic material which is highlyI absorbent ofmoisture, said sheet being easily disintegrated when wet, and a thin,narrow band of tough, flexible moisture-resistant material extendingalong the margins of said sheet and forming a frame for the latter, saidband being adherent to the sheet of cellulosic material, the outer edgeof said narrow band registering with the outer edge of said leaf-likesheet.

3. A removable absorbent pad for use in a garment shield, said padcomprising a single, luneshaped, leaf-like sheet of uniform thicknessand of unspun, unwoven fibrous material which is highly absorbent ofmoisture, said sheet being easily disintegrated when wet, and a thin,reinforcing film of tough, flexible material, substantially unaffectedby moisture, coextensive with said fibrous sheet and adherent throughoutits entire area to one face of said sheet, said film being of a normallynon-adhesive material.

4. A removable absorbent pad for use in a garment shield, said padcomprising a single, luneshaped, leaf-like multi-ply sheet of uniformthickness whose constituent layers are all of unspun, unwoven fibrousmaterial which is highly absorbent of moisture, said sheet being easilydisintegrated when wet, a reinforcing film of tough, normallynon-adhesive, flexible material, which is substantially unaffected bymoisture, coextensive with said sheet and adherent to one face of saidsheet, and a ply of open mesh textile fabric covering and adhering tothe other surface of said sheet, said textile ply being pervious tomoisture.

5. A removable absorbent pad for use in a garment shield, said padcomprising a lune-shaped, leaf-like sheet of uniform thickness and of afibrous cellulosic material which is highly absorbent sheet.

6. A removable absorbent pad for use in a garment shield, said padcomprising a single luneshaped, leaf-like, moisture-absorbent, fibroussheet of substantially uniform thickness and comprising a substantiallyhomogeneous mixture of fibers, said mixture including natural cellulosicfibers which are highly absorbent of moisture, and also includingsynthetic fibers of a substance which may be made to become sticky andwhich adhesively bind together the entire fibrous mass, and a ply ofgauge co-extensive with and covering one face of the fibrous sheet, saidgauze comprising recurrent, initially non-cementitious synthetic yarnswhich are of a material capable of being made to become sticky, saidgauze being adhesively united to the fibrous sheet throughout its entireextent by said recurrent initially noncementitious yarns.

7. A dress shield consisting of a pair of substantially lune-shapedwings flexibly united along their concavely curved edges, each wingconsisting of a single leaf-like moisture-absorbent brous sheet having aply of moisture-pervious material coextensive therewith and adherent toone of its surfaces, said sheet also having one surface coatedthroughout its entire extent with a normally non-adhesive,moisture-impervious reinforcing film, the margins of the coated surfacesof the two wings being disposed in face-to-face contact along theconcavely curved edges of the wings, and means uniting said contactingmargms. 8. A dress shield comprising a pair of substantially lune-shapedwings fiexibly united along their concavely curved edges, each Wingcomprising a leaf-like sheetformed of a substantially homogeneousmixture of natural cellulosic fibers intermingled with artificial fiberscapable of being made sticky, and a gauze ply covering one face of saidsheet, said gauze ply comprising recurrent synthetic yarns capable ofbeing made sticky, the natural cellulosic fibers of said sheet beingadhesively bound together by the artificial fibers thereby to provide asheet which is highly absorbent but shape-retaining when wet, and thegauze ply being adhesively united to the fibrous sheet by its syntheticyarns, the margins of the wings along their concavely curved edges beingdisposed in face-to-face contact, and means uniting said contactingmargins.

9. A removable absorbent pad for use in a garment shield, said padcomprising a reinforcing film of tough, fiexible, normally non-adhesive,moisture-impervious material which is substantially unaffected bymoisture, a sheet of unspun, unwoven fibrous material of substantialuniform ture but which is easily disintegrated when wet I unlessreinforced, said sheet of unspun ilbrous material being coextensive withand adherent throughout substantially its entire area to one face-ofsaid reinforcing 111m, and a ply of moisture-pervious textile materialsubstantially coextensive with said moisture-absorbent sheet, the padbeing of substantially uniform thickness,

leaf-like and lune shaped.

' DANIEL TOPJIAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name 'Date White L Oct. '11, 1887 WarnerMay 19, 1896 Catzen Sept. 2, 1902 Ferguson Jan. 6, 1903 Kamm June 9,1925 Conoyer ...May 30, 1933 Marsh June 18, 1935 Mullen Mar. 21, 1944Lippmann Oct. 24, 1944

